Sisters-LOAD 31!!! YES, I DID IT!!!! :o)

Well, here it is! My 31st layout in 31 days! Picture me leaning back in my chair heaving a huge sigh with a huge goofy grin on my face. I can't believe I actually DID this! Despite having family visiting, despite have two pretty sick kiddos for half the month, despite almost missing the deadline one time, despite not always feeling the mojo...I stuck with it and did what I set out to do! What an awesome feeling it is. Such a confidence booster in more ways than just scrapbooking. To those who followed along with me and kept encouraging me with your wonderful comments, I thank you! WHEW!

After I took the pictures of Amy reading yesterday, I took one of Jess sitting on the ottoman and Amy wanted in on it, so we had a totally impromptu photo shoot! They both happened to be wearing red, although you can't tell in this picture. They both got into it and it was so much fun! Yes, their faces are a bit dirty (Amy loves her fudgicles-how she says it) and you can see the remnants of it on her face, but who cares! I love the picture because these are my sweet girls, healthy again! :o) I searched for quotes about sisters and this one seemed perfect to me.

Thanks again for following along with me on my challenge!

Credits:
Template and Love Bug kit from Kay Miller Designs, Font is Fling and the quote was found at www.scrapbook.com

Thanks for visiting. I hope you find time to create today!

Good Friends LOAD 30!!! Yes 30!!!

Thanks for the fun comments I got on yesterday's layout. Susan, to answer your question, yes, I really do let the girls go out in whatever they choose to wear (unless it is not weather appropriate). :o) Actually I used to be a little embarrassed, especially at preschool, but I received full blessings from the teachers there. Their thinking is just like ours...it fosters independence! They like that I let them choose what to wear. Plus because the clothes are "lived in" there is no problem if they get messy at school. Okay, enough of that. Just thought I'd let you know that they do wear what they choose out in public.

Onto today's layout...Here you go!
Wednesdays are Amy's early release days from school. We have a good stretch of time where the girls can play, Amy can do her homework and just hang out before we leave for swim class. Amy got her homework done and I really needed to do some cleaning around the house. I came back into the living room to see her in the chair by the window reading her library book, Rocket. It's a Kipper book. I had not mentioned she should read. In fact we were each doing our own thing. That's what made me so happy. She made the choice to sit down and read her book. It was so very sweet, I had to snap some pictures. As my journaling says, my hope is that she realizes what good friends books become. (I still own the Little House books my mom gave me when I was in 3rd-4th grade) I am so happy she likes to and chooses to read. :o)

I really wanted to use this new digi kit-Fresh Start, but her top was red, so I decided to make the photos black and white. Amy was sitting near me as I was working on the layout and she told me I needed to put the color back in her shirt. I don't think she likes the black and white, but I think it suits the papers. I can always do another layout with the pictures in color. Ahhhhh the beauty of digi scrapping!

I already have an idea of what pictures I want to use tomorrow for the last day of the challenge. :o) That's a good start. LOL I could start it tonight, but I won't. I want to be true to the goal I set for myself, which is to create a layout a day.

Thanks for visiting! I hope you find time to create today.
Credits:
Template: Blueprints Set 6 by Vintage Charm (Megan Leeson)-Two Little Pixels
Kit-Fresh Start by Terriann Hanks-Digital-Scrapbooking.org
Fonts: Minion Pro and Pea Tracy

Fashion Divas-LOAD 29

Before I talk about my layout, I wanted to share with you that both my girls went back to school on Monday! Yea!!! I enjoyed the peace and quiet on Monday and today I spent part of the time Jessica was in school running an errand. The coughing is just about gone. The only thing is for some reason (maybe the wind-a front blew through) Jessica woke up at 3am! She fell back to sleep, but I didn't. So I am pretty tired at the moment. She was fine, just wide awake!

I also wanted to thank you for all the kind comments you have been sharing on my layouts. I really do appreciate them. I have enjoyed doing my best to meet this challenge. I don't know that I would continue to do a layout a day, but I've proven to myself that I can and that's saying something! :o)

Now onto the layout...
I'm sure you are giggling at the get my girls are wearing! I know my husband and I sometimes just shake our heads at what they come up with. Actually, now it doesn't faze us much at all! Both girls have been dressing themselves for quite some time. I'm not a mom who needs them to look "just so." I figure I just have to say...they dress themselves and it needs no more explanation! One thing I will say...I don't fight with the girls about what they wear, save a time or two when they want to leave the house without a coat and it's 20 degrees out. For the most part, I wash and fold the clothes and beyond that it's their choice on what to wear! What they wear is a battle I choose not to engage in. They are dressed and happy. Can't ask for much more than that. LOL

Credits:
Template: Jen Caputo Collection #23 Scrapbookgraphics
Kit-Tutti Frutti Nana's Attic, Notepaper-Ksharonk at Two Little Pixels
Fonts: Roselyn and Pea Nancy

Thanks for visiting. Just think two more layouts! I wonder what will strike my fancy next? And just so you know...I am actually creating one layout a day. I'm not doing a bunch on the weekend and saving them to post each day. :o)

Have a great day. I'm off to bed and hoping I get to sleep through the night!

Special Friends-LOAD 28

Whew! Wasn't sure if I was going to get this layout done! My husband helped a friend build a computer and they used my computer (the one with PSE on it) for the monitor (I think). Anyway, my computer was unavailable to me for awhile this evening. BUT, they got done early enough that I could work on a quick layout.

My daughter Jessica and Steve's friend, Dave, have a very special friendship. They are good buddies that is for sure. I was scrolling thru my photos and found a folder I hadn't noticed before called Steve's camera. I took a quick peek and found this photo, among others, of a day trip Steve and Dave took the girls (& Buster) on. I absolutely fell in love with this picture all over again. I was thinking of doing a layout about the snows we got last winter, but I'm glad I chose this one instead, especially given I didn't have a whole heckofalot of time to get 'er done.

Credits
Template: Kay Miller Designs (surprise!)
Paper and corner overlay from Simple Beauty created by Anita of Nana's Attic I recently discovered this blog and joined the "club." So far I've not been disappointed. You can read more about it on the blog.
Font: Porcelain

Thanks for visiting. I'm relieved that I didn't have to give up my goal of creating a layout a day this late into the challenge. It definitely takes an effort, but I've come this far and I want to see it through. :o)

Uncle Derek-LOAD 27

Note for Lisa, who left a nice comment on my blog: Of course you may add my blog to your bloglist. I'm flattered you would like to. Thanks for asking! :o) Blogger doesn't include email addresses so I couldn't respond directly. I think your blog is terrific! My brother Derek (number 3 brother out of 5) is an over the road truck driver. Because his delivery route doesn't often take him through Denver, we don't get to see him too often. But in August of last year I got a phone call from him letting me know he was at a nearby truckstop. He wanted to know if we could meet him there for dinner. Of course! (it was during dinner we saw the news of the Minnesota Bridge collapse) After we ate, we brought him back to our house for a bit so he could relax. He had fun playing with the girls and they loved his attention. It sure was nice catching up with him. The visit was too short, but better a short visit than none at all.

Credits:
Template: All Stitched Up by Janet Phillips
Elizabeth kit by Saskia Bokkers
Fonts: Anthology, FG Adrian and Century Gothic

Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you find time to create today.

A Few More Goodies To Share

As promised, here is the possible Valentine's Day gift for the girls' teachers. Or maybe just one of them (like Amy's). Jessica has 3 teachers, plus the very involved and sweet director. I got the idea here and just had to try it for myself. Check out her blog and the Martha Stewart site she mentions in making the fortune cookie base. I used Bamboo, Baby Pink and White Daisy. The heart stamp is from CTMH's From You and Me set (which may be retired, I can't remember off-hand). I layered the circles and the pink scalloped circle as well as the heart are pop-dotted to add some dimension. I random stamped pink hearts on the base with the heart from A Little Something set (also retired-sorry) Next up are a couple of cards I made from CTMH's Serendipity set. They are pretty self explanatory. :o) I found the inspiration for the first one here.
This one sort of evolved. Not sure if it needs something else, but don't feel like playing with it anymore.
This last card is my version of this one I saw here. I don't have the stamp she used, but I do have the script embossing folder for my Cuttlebug! I rubbed my black stamp pad over the raised images. Didn't have the ribbon or the scalloped rectangle, but I like what I used just fine. The black cardstock is textured and I picked it up at Hobby Lobby. The black rhinestone I found at Joann's. The ribbon was in my stash and I have no idea where I got it now.I hope you enjoyed these cards. I will need to work on my LOAD layout a bit later. :o)

Thanks for stopping by.

Cookie Time-LOAD 26

Well, here it is! Layout 26! I think the colors are so happy and I even snuck in that ladybug I like so much, although she is kinda small.

I feel a little more creatively satisfied after my craft fest today.

Template and Love Bug kit are from Kay Miller Designs. Font is Sweetheart Script.

I'm thinking I really need to practice some digi techniques that I've learned, but a lot of times in order to get a layout done, I need to keep it simple. I think I'll have to wait until after the challenge to get some good practice using different techniques.

With that, I'll close and head to bed.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you find time to create today.